Trauma, especially if it’s related to motor vehicles has led to varied ailments, which remain undiagnosed or poorly diagnosed at times. Whiplash is characterized by acceleration / deceleration; this abnormal movement results in a variety of injuries, which include ligament trauma like that of Anterior & Posterior longitudinal ligament, Alar ligament, facet joint trauma, disk trauma etc. The ligaments, the muscles and the small joints form a system, which offers stability to the entire spine. Any injury or pathology of this system is a major threat to the stability of the spine. This condition in which the spine fails to maintain its normal displacement pattern under physiological loads is termed as clinical instability.

Clinical instability induced by trauma predisposes the spine to degenerative pathological conditions that promote osteophyte formation, which stabilize the joint in the future. White and Panjabi have done extensive work in this field. They have devised criteria for the evaluation or assessment and diagnosis of a case of clinical instability and various clinical tests have been put forth by stalwarts of this field. Panjabi has put forth a point value system for the diagnosis of clinical instability. He allotted 2 points to the lesion or loss of function of the anterior structure of the spine, 2 points to the posterior structure and 4 points to the radiographic criteria, 3 points to the damage of the cauda equina and 2 points to intervertebral translation observed at resting, flexion-extension radiographs and 2 points to the rotation at the sagittal plane and has also allotted a point to dangerous loading on the spine. He concluded that, cases having a total of more than 5 points qualify for clinical spinal instability.

While clinical instability is accompanied with lower back pain, stiffness or muscle spasm or painful locking up of the spine, spinal impairment on the other hand is associated with sensory and motor deficits. Based on the level of trauma and the damage, various evaluation methods have been proposed. The Diagnosis Related Estimates or the DRE, proposed by the American Medical Association is an important guideline for evaluation. It focuses on etiology, radiculopathies, motion segment alterations and disk herniations and stenosis of varying degrees. The ROM method of assessment is an easy step by step guidance for assessment. Measuring the range of motion of the affected spine is followed by classifying it into a specific pathology and then followed by noting the nerve deficits. The inference from all these is combined and a logical diagnosis is arrived.

The American Spinal Injury Association has graded the varying degrees of spinal impairment. Grade A being the most severe, refers to a condition of complete spinal injury with both motor and sensory deficits with loss of function in S4 and S5. Grade B refers to incomplete spinal injury, where sensory function is preserved and motor function is lost. Grade C refers to an incomplete spinal injury, where the muscle grade is less than 3. Active movement of muscles with full range of motion of joints against the gravity is preserved. In grade D motor function below neural level is preserved and a muscle grade of more than 3 is present, and grade E is a near normal condition with no possibility of a spinal injury.

While, clinical instability does not involve sensory or motor deficits, it leads to minor disabilities, which affect the activities of daily living. Chronic low back pain with muscle guarding and unwillingness to attempt any unusual movement or exercise has a negative impact on the quality of life. On the other hand, advanced cases of spinal impairment pose greater threat to life and permanent disabilities.

Were you in a car accident? Do you have pain? Thoughts cross your mind and you begin to ask:”will this pain last FOREVER? , What should I do?”

You are not alone in having those thoughts. Now, what if you had a specialist who could help you understand what to do with your injuries: wouldn’t you want to know? If you do, then you will be excited to read the rest of what I have here.

The injuries to the spine and joints, are often debilitating”… “Consequently, it is inevitable that some whiplash-injured patients will develop a LIFE TIME OF CHRONIC PAIN and a personal injury specialist is the best to manage these injuries.”… Says Dr. Matthew DeGaetano (National Speaker on Whiplash & Personal Injury)

Studies have indicated that CAD (Cervical Acceleration Deceleration) injuries sustained while the injured’s head is rotated are more severe than those sustained when the head is in a forward facing position in relation to the force applied. Furthermore, the injury is greater on the side the head was rotated to.

In 1989, the journal Neuro-Orthopedics published a 12.5-year (mean duration) study
on whiplash-injured patients. The authors reported that 62% continued to suffer from
significant pain symptoms attributed to the motor vehicle collision 12.5 years later.

One of the most common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents is whiplash. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most commonly ignored issues, especially since it often takes days or weeks to appear. Whether you have noticed this injury immediately after your accident or weeks later, you should schedule an appointment with a qualified chiropractor. Until then, you should know what to expect when you get treatment.

Initial Treatment

Your chiropractor will first try to reduce pain and inflammation, such as with ultrasound technology. This treatment can reduce pain and muscle spasms while increasing blood flow. You may also be given a neck collar to wear, and you will be advised to apply ice to your neck to reduce swelling. If the pain is severe, you may be given pain medication, but a good chiropractor combines this with other treatments that are longer lasting. This is because pills will not solve the issue, which is why you should see a chiropractor in the first place.

Treatment for Severe Whiplash

If ice, ultrasound therapy, and pain medication do not help the inflammation and discomfort disappear within weeks, you should return for additional help. You could have a slipped disc or some trapped nerves, requiring further treatment. In that case, your practitioner may offer therapeutic massage or trigger point therapy.

You may also need spinal manipulation, especially if you have lost some range of motion in your neck. In addition, many patients with whiplash are given exercises to perform to stretch the muscles and improve the strength of the area. You can do these in the office or at home, which means your actions can dictate how fast you heal. You may also be advised to avoid sports and activities during which your neck could get injured again, since it is weaker after suffering whiplash.

Your treatment will depend on your symptoms and the way your neck is responding to the initial therapy. If you are suffering from whiplash of any level following a car accident, it’s time to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Baek or Dr. Kim. When you come in for your appointment, we will thoroughly examine your neck to determine the severity of your whiplash. We will then create a customized treatment plan for your case. You can contact Dr. Steve Baek and Dr. Young Kim, Chiropractors/Injury Specialists, at the following phone numbers: